An epidemiologist speaking to the paper called BA.5 “the worst version of the virus we’ve seen.” The newest subvariant is quickly taking over from other omicron variants because it can easily evade immunity from previous infections and vaccines, increasing the risk of reinfection.
The BA-5 subvariant is also gaining ground in China, writes The Washington Post. That is why there are growing fears that the strict restrictions just lifted in Chinese cities will be reintroduced. For example, Shanghai is only a few weeks out of a two-month lockdown that has kept most people confined to their homes. The city has begun large-scale testing and the closure of high-risk streets.
Vaccine makers such as Moderna and Pfizer are working hard to adapt their vaccines to address the rapidly spreading omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. Both companies aim to bring these new vaccines to the US market by the fall.